EDIT 2: Did you know Katherine McPhee’s mom has an album out?? I
didn’t, but when I searched for McPhee on iTunes, lo and behold one of
the things I got… (click to enlarge)

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EDIT ADD: Ok, just talked with a girl in my office who also saw
TBU. She was talking about how she liked it because it showed the full
range and cycle of anger and the emotions associated with breaking up,
etc…AND how it is totally useless. Hm, from that perspective, I can
definately see worth in the film now. It is a good message to
relay–anger and retaliation really just leads to a loss for everyone,
and THAT’S a good message.
I really just went in there expecting a
funny movie, and was shocked. In addition, I’ve never really been
through a horrible break up like that, so I can’t really relate with
those feelings. However, my bro-in-law can–so he liked it. It’s good to get perspective…

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A couple of quick things:

1)      Christy’s
sick. She’s been sick since sometime Friday, and is barely showing any signs of
recovery. This is by far the worst sickness she’s had in a long time, perhaps
since we’ve been married. Fever, sore throat…all kinds of stuff. Gosh, it’s
hard to have her sick. There’s no food in the house (although I attempted to
shop on Sunday), I cleaned the entire apartment this weekend, I had to do my
own laundry—and the poor kids…they still require her attention night and day. It’s
hard not having a wife!! I can’t really take off work ‘cause I don’t have any
sick time yet, and so on we plow…praying and hoping she gets better. Please
join us in our prayers…

2)      We
saw “The Break Up” on Saturday night (yes, Christy went even though she was
feeling sick.). I hated it. It was
horrible. It has been advertised as a romantic comedy, but there was rarely a comedic moment in the entire
thing. It was seriously two hours of the main characters fighting and doing
horrible things to each other. I couldn’t believe it. I think the entire movie
theater was shocked. I heard people talking all around me as we came out of the
show saying the same things we were thinking… “I thought that would be funnier…”
“Wow, that was really depressing”, etc..etc..etc..I was truly disappointed, and
I give it a full two thumbs down.
The only good quality of this film was perhaps the good acting jobs by Vince
and Jen. Their fights were REAL. You could really feel the tension and the
animosity in the film, so for that I say “good job”—but that’s it. I’d really
rather it was funnier… 

3)      The
whole family is coming down this weekend to vacation at Disneyland!
I’m excited. I think this is the first time we’ve done anything like this with
our entire extended family on my side. I’m totally looking forward to it. I’d
love to see our whole family get together once a year or something for family
reunions or whatever. I don’t even know how that would all work, but I just
think it would be fun. I love my family!

4)      Last
class yesterday in one of my courses, and another final project due on
Thursday. In my Thursday class we will have a live string quartet play something
we’ve written. I’m excited about that!

5)      I
am writing a full choir/orchestra arrangement of HE REIGNS (Newsboys) for our
weekend services on June 17-18. You are all invited to church that weekend to
hear it. Check out www.ylfc.org for
directions/service times. It should be awesome! I’m taking a whole “Lion King”
feel to the song…and I’m totally grateful for the opportunity to write
something for our church orchestra. They’re all totally pros and will do a
bang-up job on the tune!

EDIT: YLFC Grand Opening was phenomenal. I can’t believe that I got to be a part of it. They pulled out all the stops for this one, and did it in a way that was not showy, or pretentious, or prideful, or assuming, or anything but honoring to the Lord. Playing piano at the last minute was a challenge for me, and a good one. I made it through, by the grace of God. I made it through the part where I was the only one playing “How Great Thou Art” in front of 2500 people with no sheet music. I made it through the part where I found out 5 minutes before the service started that I was also the only one playing on “Amazing Grace” at the end–also no sheet music. I made it through the opener, which started off with me and a click track (complete with meter changes!!). OK- I didn’t make it through, God guided me through, and I can hardly believe it happened.
On a side note, it was probably the most amazing worship/musical experience for me thus far. I can’t believe we’re at this church, and I can’t believe I played piano at the Grand Opening of this building. It will probably never happen again, and I was there. So amazing. So humbling. So thrilling!

I love this place.

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Let’s do some bullet-points:

-I had a great conversation with my professor after class on Thursday night. We talked for probably an hour after class-which is highly unusual for anyone to do. It was a conversation about my potential, ways that I need to grow as a musician and arranger, life, God, the industry and the way it is changing, and countless other topics…he is a wealth of knowledge and experience in the music industry. It was one of those conversations where the other person does most of the talking and you’re OK with that. I just listened and soaked it all in. It was amazing.

-I played synth on Wednesday night for a leadership summit at my church. It was amazing. Not necessarily the music, but the whole meeting. It was a gathering of about 300-400 of the church’s lay leaders to cast vision and get people prepared for the grand opening this weekend. It was great to hear about the faith of the people that believed in God for a miracle to build this place.  They signed a contract with the architect in 1992! They hit some roadblocks a few years ago, and almost had to tear the whole thing down, but they didn’t. They believed. And it was insipiring to hear the story. What an excellent place. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.

-We had a staff development day on Friday for our office. I didn’t know what to expect, but I ended up loving it! They brought in a speaker that was awesome, and stinkin’ hilarious–but let me tell you, that’s not why she was awesome–she was awesome AND funny, not awesome because she was funny. There’s a big difference. She actually stayed around for lunch and hung out with a bunch of us for a while, just chilling and talking. I totally respected that. She had great insights and tools for us as a workplace. Plus, after she left, we played some awesome APU mafia with everyone. People were confused for a while, but then caught on. Joe and I have an alliance (in the office, not just mafia). We’re going to the top 2. I think Erin and Heidi might make it to the final 4 with us, but we’re definately top 2. Oh yeah, I didn’t get killed (in the mafia game) either time we played, and I wasn’t mafia either…which is an accomplishment!

-Tonight is the grand opening of the new church building, and the first AND second string piano players can’t make it–so they called me. Yes, me! Yahoo!! I’m totally stoked. OK, and when I say first/second string, I mean the REALLY GOOD Pro piano players that have been going to the church for a long time…they’re not really like second-string or anything. Whatever, anyways, I’m just excited to play, I mean, I’ve never actually played piano at this church for a service (just a rehearsal once) and now I’m doing the Grand Opening! Yeah, I’m really excited…

-Please be praying for Noah and our switch to Lovaas. Our regional center is really being jerks. You can read about it on Christy’s blog.
-Also, please be praying for our finances. We’re praying God provides the other half of the salary we need for each month. So far, God has not dissapointed us, but we would appreciate your prayers for wisdom in our spending and for God’s continued provision.